QUESTION: About the LISD school bond, wouldn't it be better to raise city sales taxes instead of putting all the burden on property owners? At least everyone would be paying their fair share, especially since a large percentage of students are not property owners.
ANSWER: Besides being unlawful, a city sales tax for LISD improvement would have residents in other Longview school districts (Pine Tree, Spring Hill, Hallsville) paying more than their fair share for LISD.
School districts and cities are distinctly different taxing entities. State law allows cities and counties to collect sales taxes only for specific purposes, such as "for use and benefit of the city," to reduce city property tax rates and for street improvement. The state limits the combination of city and county sales tax to 2 percent. Longview is already at the limit.
The only tax that school districts can levy is property tax. Theoretically, the Legislature could raise the state portion of sales tax and disburse those funds to school districts throughout the state.
Also, your question presumes that only students benefit from school improvements and that students do not pay property tax. Everyone, including people who don't have children or grandchildren, benefits when students are better educated. It raises the education level of the area and attracts business. Students may not pay property taxes, but their parents and guardians do through property ownership or rent.
Q: In regard to the Longview location of the Texas Comptroller's office merging with the Tyler office, will taxpayers from far northeast Texas have to travel to Tyler? Will there be any times that a Longview location would be open for area taxpayers? How many employees will be there?
A: According to a spokesman for the comptroller's office, area taxpayers can go to the Tyler location any weekday. Two employees will staff the Longview location at 1650 N. Eastman Road from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays.
Q: When will the signal be installed at Pliler Precise and Judson Road? They have surveyed it, marked it with flags and taken pictures. I see close calls there every day.
A: The project is several months ahead of schedule, according to Rolin McPhee, public works engineering manager. The city hired a contractor, the survey and preliminary design are complete and the city and Texas Department of Transportation are reviewing the design. Once the city and TxDOT give it the green light, installation will begin.
Q: Watching the Kentucky Derby I noticed women with hats large enough to be parasails. How did large hats get started at the derby?
A: No one can say for sure, but it could have been an attempt to bring the ladies into the fold. Before the derby's first running in 1875, a Louisville horse owners club organized races at a course called Oakland House.
Ladies did not attend because so much betting and bourbon drinking was going on. Race officials saw that they would get more rich horse owners to participate if the owners could bring wives and lady friends. The club built a mansion with a ladies pavilion at the track, and soon race days were a social occasion. Newspapers reported on fashions sported at the races, so ladies competed for attention by wearing elaborate outfits. The hat must match the dress.
The tradition held over when Churchill Downs opened, and today you might say it's slightly out of control. Sure, the ladies on Millionaire's Row still wear their hats with dignity. But the infield area, which has a low admission fee and attracts the serious partiers, is where the tradition goes slightly askew. There you will find outlandish hats, some even worn by men. The local newspaper sponsors a photo contest for pets wearing derby hats.
If you ask hat wearers today, they will tell you the hats are for good luck with your picks.
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